Cats/hissing

QuestionQUESTION: My younger female cat has started hissing and picking fights with my older male cat for no reason. She runs around the house swatting and hissing at him at unexpected times. I don't know why she has started doing this. She even hissed at me one time now...and she is usually such a momma'a girl

ANSWER: Hi
sounds to me like something has frightened her and she is blaming you and your other cat for her fear. this is not unusual and is known as trauma aggression.

Aggression is often a sign of fear for a cat and when something unexpected frightens them they become fearful and seem to place this fear with someone or something else. As I say this is common, sometimes after another cat has visited the vets this can happen.

QUESTION: Thank you for the response...I just want to give a little more detail...just so I feel better....she is not fixed...I'm not sure if that matters...but the older cat (male)is. She doesn't always pick fights but has so more increasing and just for the last couple of week...but at the same time she will let him bathe her and she will sit with him for a short while. I think the reason she hissed at me is because I did scare her at that moment...but she has been extremely affectionate with me. I just want to make sure that this information isn't something I should have left out. She has seemed to be a lot more "scard" with noises though.

AnswerHi
thank you for the additional information but it doesn't really change my response. However cats which are not neutered can be more aggressive generally as they are more territorial and likely to feel threatened more. So you may want to consider having her spayed as this will make her a less frustrated and generally more contented cat.

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I can answer most day to day cat problems encountered by owners. I have a good understanding of cat behaviour and problems which may arise from changes to their daily routine. I can advise on cat training including litter training and general day to day cat care issues. I am not a vet and therefore cannot answer medical questions.

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